Conveying and rasping equipment for lumpy material such as superphosphate and the like



July 1 15 1950 H CONVEYING AND RASP B. slEMs 2,515,165 TNG EQUIPMENT FOR LUMPY MATERIAL sucH As suPERPHosPHATE AND THE LIKE Filed may 1s, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A Tron/ver H. B. slEMs 2,515,165 CONVEYING AND RAsPING EQUIPMENT EoE LUNPY MATERIAL July 11, 1950 SUCH AS SUPERPHOSPHATE AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18. 1945 INVENTOR. man Siem@ ffy?.

.4 rw /zmsr Patented July 1l, 1950 UNITED y STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVEYING AND RASBING EQUIPMENT Foa LUMPY MA'LERIAL suon As sUPERPHos- PHATE AND THE LIKE Herman B. Siems, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Swift- Company, Chicago,'Ill., a corporation of' Application May 18, 1945, Serial No. '594,463

This invention relates erenceto conveyor-and ras'per equipment for han- .dling lump materialsuchfas superphosphate used to'improvements in material handling-'equipment fand has particular reffs'o'nims. (c1. 241-186) chamber. While a stationary rasper as used heretofore throws the rasped material a considerable distance neverthelessthe materialtends'to -form a pile and it has been necessary to'u'se a. crane or other means of distributing the rasped inthe manufacture of fertilizer.v 5

While belt conveyors lare-commonly used for superphosphate in the bin. I material handling Vpurposes .the application for The present invention provides afree swinging which the mechanismlfof this invention Lwashdel; or trag/eling contveyor Wl'iichTlontxns fa ra'sp'er'as signed involved a number of problems orw ic an in egral par `thereo us e-conveyor is `previously..known.conveyorbelt devices offered no..10 pivoted at vthe Aone -end where the lacid treated .adequatesolutiom :c rock is charged. The other end where the 'super- Fr-.example,fthe contemplated `installatic'm -rephosphate is discharged-'iseeeswingingandfconquired free'dom:iofimovement .of at least'one .-end tams the -rasper attachedthereto. The conveyor of the '.conveyoriin laterahdirections for distributravels at a relatively 'slowspeed and 7the rasper tion ofthe materialaandfrasping of the material .1.5 -travels at airelativelyhighspeed,.for example-400 while still fin motionzffrom .thei conveyor-inv addi- R. P. M. The arrangement is such thattheslow tion the.:usua1.=fun'ction`sv of belt;.conveyor mechmovement of lt-hevconveyorcause's little Wear and 4anism. 1 f.' tear thereon. 'However th'eahigh speed rasper-ef- It is thereforeranobjectof thevpresent'im'lenfectivelythrows thematerial dischargedifromthe tion tofpmlvideaaombined conveying andrasping; 20 conveyor a. considerable. distance inthe bin. Also device for lumpmaterial.. .the movement of .the free :swinging endof the lA further object resides ini the J'provision ,-of a conveyor -with Athe -attached rasper enables .the lcombined conveying and rasping-.device constructrasped material to be distributed substantially ed as av-unit and.'so.=supported.that at-least one 'evenly 'inthe bin. vend of the device'willlhave freedom of lateral or 25 In the accompanying :drawings in -which like swinging movement.l reference numerals .are used-to designate similar A still further objectaesides .inthe provision of parts throughout: an improved conveying device 'for lump material -Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a combined having adjustable lump 11asping mechanism opconveying and-rasping device-constructed accorderatively associatedgwith thedischarge end there@ 30 ing to the invention; of. y Figure 2 is a top plan -view of the conveying Another object of the invention is t0 provide a mechanism, the motor -platform and rasping slowly moving `belt conveyor lwhereby Wear and .mechanism being omitted in orderto simplify .the tear is reduced-and yet the product discharged drawing; from the end ofthe conveyor is thrown a consid- 35 Figure 3 is a sectional view on theline llr-A of .erable distance from the conveyor. Figure .1;

Another object is toprovide .a non-clogging Figure 4 is la sectional view on the line 4-41 of rasper adapted to operate .on l.plastic materials Figure 1; and such as fresh superphosphate.V Figure -5 vis a diagrammatic .sectional ,view .on

Other objects and advantages will become apthe line 5-.5 of Figure 1. parent as Vthe description proceeds in connection 4 With continued reference tO'theAd-Iawings and with the accompanying y'drawings and from the particularly to Fig. 1,-I111me1a1'l0-gene1al1y i11- lappended claims. dca-:s a corveyorframe zvhich comprisles a pair In the manufactureof.superphosphate in a. cono si e mem ersgas indica edat I2 andl inFig. tinuous or traveling den,. itlha's vbeen customary 45 2 and a plurality of cross-members as indicated heretofore 'to .discharge the acidtreated rock onto atl B, I8, 20V and-.22. a moving den which .travels in kafxed path. Also The frame is provided onits upper side with it has been .customary .toprovidearasper at. the itable bzearing israckets in whici alillf joursiale -end and separatefrom the .conveyor to r'asp,` the e axles and vof apair ofbe ,p eys an fresh, plastic superphosphateformedby.thereac--. .30, and an fendless .conveyor .belt 32 ,extends tion of the' acid ontherock/Ias.' the mixturetravels' 50 around the belt pulleys 28 andand lssupporton the conveyor. l'll'helfresnsuperphosphate is .ed .alongits upper sideby aplurality ofsets of plastic and wouldftend tofform .a cake orllarge rollers as indicated at .'34,.3,6-and .38. These :sets lllilmps unless it i'srrasped as it is discharged from 'of llrlollers, .as micully illustrates .in Fig. 5, e conveyor. e.rasped material-is.,ordinarily. .eac comprise ee .r' e'rsof whic .the .center discharged from the conveyr'into a. 'large bin or' 65 roller has Iits axis substantially parallel tothe axes of the belt pulleys and the end rollers are inclined outwardly and upwardly to give the upper side of the belt a trough shape as is clearly indicated in Fig. 5. The bottom side of the belt is preferably supported by one or more straight return rolls as indicated at 40. The belt itself may be of some usual or preferred construction but in the case of the installation for which the device of the invention was particularly designed and in which lump phosphate rock was the material to be handled, it was found that a belt composed of cord fabric and neoprene proved to be entirely satisfactory.

The frame I is inclined, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, and the lower end portion of the frame is supported upon a vertical pivot 42 fixed to the floor 44. While the construction of the vertical pivot 42 may be varied without in any way exceeding the scope of the invention, it has been found convenient to use for this purpose a member 46 having an axial bore therethrough and having at one end an integral flange 48 by means of which the member can be firmly secured This pivot is so located that its axis substantially coincides with the center line of a hopper or chute 56 through which the material to be handled is discharged onto the upper surface of the lbelt 32.

Intermediate its length the frame is provided with a depending portion generally indicated at 58 which may conveniently comprise four vertical leg members, three of which are indicated "at G0, 62, and 64 in Figs. 1 and 4. `These vertical leg members are secured together at their lower ends by suitable cross members,- as indicated at 66 and 68, and by side members, as indicated at and '|2. The structure is preferably reinforced by a diagonal member 14 and by suitable gusset plates, as indicated at 16, 78. 80 and 82 in Fig.

4, to provide a strong and rigid unit firmly se- '-cured to the frame side members I2 and I4.

At its lower end the frame portion 58 carries a pair of trunnion wheels 84 and 8G adapted to ride upon an arcuate track 88 which is formed from a rail curved on an arc centered upon the axis of the vertical pivot 42, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

With this arrangement the higher end of the inclined conveyor unit, which is the discharge end of the unit, may be swung about the pivot 42 in order to distribute material discharged from the conveyor along a path which is generally transverse to the direction of movement of the material by the conveyor. By having the axis of the pivot 42 substantially coincident with the center line of the hopper 56 this swinging movement may take place without moving the belt out from under the discharge end of the hopper. In order to make sure that the material discharged from the hopper will all stay on the conveyor belt the bottom end of the hopper or chute 56 is provided with skirt boards, as indicated at 00 in Fig. 1.

On its upper side the frame carries a motor i platform, generally indicated at 92, which may be conveniently provided by securing four ver- 96 in Fig. 1, to the upper sides of the side frame members I2 and I4. These legs may be secured to the side members by suitable means, such as the transverse angle bars 98 and |00, and may be reinforced by suitable diagonal members, one of which is indicated at |02. On their upper ends the four upwardly extending vertical leg members carry a, platform |04 upon which two motors |06 and |08 are secured. A reduction gear box ||0 is interposed between the platform and the motor |06. The gear box ||0 has an input sheave II4 on one side thereof, and output shaft II2 carries an output sprocket 6 positioned to the other side of the gear box. The motor shaft is provided with a sheave I I8 which is connected to the sheave II4 by suitable means such as a plurality of V-belts. The chain sprocket ||6 is connected by a suitable roller chain with a chain sprocket |20 secured on the end of the axle 24 of the belt pulley 28 so that the motor |06 by rotating the belt pulley 28 drives the conveyor belt 32. The belt sheave I|4 is larger than the sheave I8 and the chain sprocket |20 is larger than the sprocket ||6 thus giving a double speed reduction, in addition to that obtained in gear box ||0 between the motor and the belt pulley`28. to reduce the rotational speed of the pulley relative to the rotational speed of the motor.

A depending truss structure, generally indicated at |22, is pivotally secured at its upper end to the under sides of the side members I2 and I4 at a locationadjacent the belt pulley 28. This truss structure may conveniently comprise a pair of leg members |24 and |26 secured together at their free ends by a cross member |28 and reinforced by suitable gusset plates, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. Intermediate its length the truss |22 is provided with a pair of bearing brackets,

`one of which is indicated at |30 in Fig. 1, in

which is journaled the axle |32 of a rasper cylinder, generally indicated at |34. 'I'his axle |32 carries upon -one end thereof a belt sheave |36 operatively connected by suitable means, such as a plurality of V-belts, with a sheave |38 on the shaft of the motor |08 so-that the motor |03 is operative to drive the rasper cylinder I 34.

The rasper cylinder |34 is formed of a plurality of diametrically disposed blade members, as indicated at |40, each of which has a somewhat enlarged central portions apertured for the passage therethrough of the axle shaft |32 and reduced, generally symmetrical end portions. I'hese blade members are mounted upon the axle |32 in side-by-side relation, and are sequentially angularly spaced by a substantially uniform angle forming pocket-like openings therebetween as is clearly indicated in Fig. 1. In practice it has been found that an angle of 45 between the center lines of adjacent blade members provides an efficient and effective rasper cylinder.

The side members I2 and I4 extend outwardly beyond the discharge 4end ofthe conveyor belt and carry upon their outwardly extended end portions respective bracket members, one of which is indicated at |42 in Fig. 1. These bracket members are adjustably secured to the respective side members I2 and I4 and support -a transverse blade member |44 which is adjustably secured to the surfaces of the bracket members which are at right angles to the sidemembers I2 and I4 so that the blade member can be moved substantially horizontally along the side members and can. also be moved substantially vertically along the bracket'members lgiving it two paths-of'adannales fjustment substantially at right 3angles 'to .each other. The rasper -cylinder 134 cooperates with the blade member -144 to reduce the maximum lump size of material falling from the discharge end of the-conveyor belt. As is clearly indicated 1in Fig. l the rasper cylinder is so .disposed as to llie within the path or 'trajectory of the material falling -from the discharge en'd of the conveyor .belt :over 'the pulley 28, this position .being vobytainedby proper adjustment of thepivoted brace members, one of which is indicated at |46, land each fof which is pivotally connected at one end to la :corresponding strut member and is provided in :its :opposite end .portion lwith a plurality of spaced apertures, .as indicated .at |48, through which -the brace member may be adjustably ipinned ato corresponding aperturedblock l-SU se- .cured on `-the .under side of the corresponding .sidemember l2 or I4.

fthe rasper .cylinder is rotatedin thepath of the falling .material from .the discharge-end of .the @transverse blade is .thrown somewhat uplwai-Idlyand outwardly beyond the end of the con- 'veyorframeI thus materially fdecreasing the nec- -ssary'length of the conveyor mechanism.

`".Lhere is thus provided an efficient and ecomomicalconveyor unit, the discharge end of which :canbe moved laterally to properly distribute .material handled thereby and with which there is combined'a lump sizing or rasper mechanism so Lthat the material is moved and sized in a single `-operation. By means of the adjustable features inf the sizer mechanism the maximumilump size ./.can-be varied at will and by the provision of sepafrate motors for driving the conveyor belt and the 'rasper cylinder of the sizing -mechanism a, con- :siderable economy in the use of electrical energy -is obtained since the sizing mechanism requires econsider-ably more power than is required to drive fthe conveyor belt. Other material advantages of the improved construction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodi ment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and language of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention hereinbefore set forth mayv be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rasping and distributing means for fresh superphosphate, comprising: a conveyor mounted on a frame and having an inlet end to receive super-phosphate and an outlet end to deliver superphosphate to a. rasper; a pair of swinging arms mounted on the frame atv the outlet end of Asaid conveyor; a masping-zmeans taking the ici-m of ya plurality of radially extending fingersysaid :resping means being carriedon'anaxle supported .at each end lin the free :ends fofsaid pairnf swinging arms; means to xedly dispose said'swnging arms in anyone ofa plurality of .positions tozdispose said :raspingmeans in .any one of .a plurality of 4positions below 4the outlet. end of.-said=conve;vor, saidfrasping means being .of a size toexteudsubstantially across the width of .the-outlet.: deflect- .ing means iixedly fpositioned at the :outlet .of :the conveyor vand :at a downwardly facing anglasaid deflecting means -being positioned-such that the lower edge thereof nearly touches the'outeriends of vsaid radially extending fingers. .and :theltace of said deecting means lying in a plane ahout radially disposed with respect to the-axis cfg-said rasping means; and means Ato rapidly .rotate lithe rasping means whereby fsaid fingers -ax-earapidly carried through the .path .down which lumpy superphosphate vfalls from the zoutlet :of said `con- .veyon 2. A rasping `and distributing means for fresh superphosphate, comprising: :a -framea moving conveyor mounted .on rsaid frame .andfhaving an inlet end to yreceive lumpysuperphosphate zand .an.outlet end todeliveLlumpy-superphosphate to -a rasper, the outlet end of .said conveyor being disposed -at a. higherlever than said inlet .end;

.a rapidly .moving superphosphate rasping .means mounted on said `frame and disposed.. helow;the

.outlet end .of .said .conveyor,..the .frame being .pivotally mounted aboutaverticalgaxisintersectying the .inletend of .the .conveyorl whereby'the rasping and distributing .means may be turned Vizo-spread the raspedsuperphosphate throughout a widespread..area,.said rasping means-being of .a .size Ato .extend Vacross .the width' of '.the outlet;

means .to drive said conveyor .and raspingmeans in such a. .direction A thatV .the izravelof .the superphosphate .across .each .'is.in 'thesame direction; and 4a defiecting means `mounted on said ,frame and positioned at the outlet of the conveyorand at a .downwardly facing angle, said ,deilecting .meansbeing positioned suchthat vthe lower eCige thereof nearly touches 4the .rasping means, Land the -face of said deflecting meansllyingin a plane .about radially disposed with respectto theaxis of .said rasping means, an'd said deflecting means cooperating with the ras'ping means to eie'ct a .slicingzup of the larger lumps of super-phosphate material.

3. In a device for rasping and 'distributing lumpsof fresh superphosphate the combination .of a frame, a power drivenrasper'mounted on said-frame to rotate-about a substantiallyhorizontal axis, a breaker blade,'and'conveyor'means mounted on said frame and positioned to load the superphosphate into the rasper, said rasper being positioned below and at least partially beyond the discharge end of said conveyor means. said rasper being of a size to extend substantially across the outlet end of said conveyor means and including a. plurality of projecting arms mounted to rotate in a given direction about a common axis and forming pocket-like openings therebetween, said means being adapted to discharge superphosphate onto an upper portion of said rasper where at least a portion thereof is caught in said pocket-like openings. Said breaker blade being mounted to the frame with an edge thereof a relatively close distance to the orbit of the ends of the arms, said blade edge being positioned along the portion of said orbit just following, with respect to the direction of rotation, the area in which said loading takes place and before gravity or centrifugal force has acted to remove the superphosphate from said pocket-like openings whereby the lumps of superphosphate trapped in said pocket-like openingswill, if saidy lumps project'from said pocket-like openings inI (excess ofsaid distance, be reduced in size by the opposing action of the rotating arms and the blade, said rasper means being rotated at a fairly high peripheral speed whereby said arms will tend- V to have a fracturing effect upon said lumps even though the lumps are not sufliciently large to so project and whereby the superphosphate will be thrown therefrom by centrifugal force and gravsaid conveyor means including a-moving belt conveyor. with the discharge end thereof raised .above said rasper and the receiving end positioned to intersect said axis to receive the superphosphate despite any pivotal movements of the vframe about said axis.

.4. A rasping and distributingmeans forfresh superphosphate, comprising: a frame, a moving conveyor mounted on said frame and having an inlet end to receive lumpy superphosphate and an outlet end to deliver lumpy superphosphate to `a rasper, the outlet end of said conveyor being disposed at a higher levelthan said inlet end; a rapidly moving superphosphate yrasping means mounted on said frame and disposed below the outlet end of said conveyor, the frame being-piv- 1 otally mounted about a vertical axis intersecting., the inlet end of the conveyor whereby the rasping and distributing means may be-turned to spread the rasped superphosphate throughout a. widespread area, said rasping means 'being of a size to lextend across the Width of the outlet; means to.V drive said conveyor and rasping means in such a direction that the travel of the 'superphosphate across each is inthe same direction; `and a defleeting means mounted on said frame 'and posiy `tioned at the outlet of the conveyor to direct the.

superphosphate from the conveyor to thefrasper.

5. A rasping and distributing means for fresh superphosphate, comprising: a conveyor mounted on a frame and having an inlet end to receive superphosphate and an outlet end to deliver.

superphosphate to a rasper, the framebeing piv- Votally mounted about a vertical axis intersecting I the inlet end of the conveyor whereby'the raspmounted'on the frame at the outlet errd of s'ai'd conveyor; a rasping means taking the form'of a plurality of radially extending fingers-said rasping means being carried on an axlel supported at each end in the free ends of saidpair o f swinging. arms; means to xedly -disposel said' swinging arms in any one of a plurality of positions to dispose said rasping means in any on of a plurality of positions below the outlet end of said conveyor, said rasping means being `of a size to extend substantially acrossthe width of the outlet; deiiecting means xedly positioned at the outlet of the conveyor and at av downwardly facing angle, said deflecting means being positioned such that the lower edge thereof nearly touches the outer ends 'of said radially extending iingers, and the :soA

- Number Name 340,999 Graves May 4, 1886 527,412. Com?y Oct-.16, 1894 593,005 Wilder Nov. 12, 1897 855,745` Argall. June4; 1907 930,137 Bloom;` Aug. 3, 1909 1,044,547 Liggett Nov. 19,1912

1,071,237- .Jeffries Aug. 26, 1913 1,160,632 Manley Nov. 16, 1915 1,289,542 Rapp Dec. 31, 1918 l1,401,527 Doyle Dec. 27, 1921 1,457,210."y crane -1 May 29, [1923 I. 1,975,4064 'Reschke Oct. ,2, 1934` i 2,013,502 Phillips Sept-3,1935

2,063,431 Grayson Dec. 8, 1936 2,092,102 Wilson Sept. 7, 1937 2,105,764 Feight Jan. 18, 1938 2,110,851 Symons Mar. 8, 1938 2,148,209 Loiseau Feb. 21, 1939 2,212,482 Sheldon Aug. 20, 1940 y yFOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 423,995 France Mar. 2, 1911 500,788. Germany June 26, 1930 671,813.

face of said deilecting means lying-.in a plane about radially disposed with respect to the -axis of said rasping means; and means to rapidly rotate the rasping means whereby said fingers are rapidly carried through the path down which lumpy superphosphate falls from the outlet of said conveyor.

HERMAN B. SIEMS.

` REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patentz` UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Germany Feb. 15, 1939 

